“Spit it out, Pip.” Drummer voice drips with impatience.
“I’m a spy, or was. It’s not something I can switch off. When Stormy went on his break, I knew it had nothing to do with his mom. I tried to track him but lost him. I wondered whether he’d received new information, or whether after all these years, he wanted revenge for the death of the SEAL. I put feelers out to watch Smythe. If Stormy was stupid enough to take out a serving officer, my aim was to intercept him and bring him back.” He clasps his hands together and rubs them both against his nose. “I cancelled the op when Stormy reappeared, but a trace was still there. Eventually, one of Smythe’s aides picked up there were eyes on him. To cut a long story short, when my name came up, Smythe wanted to smoke me out to discover just what I was doing. He played the long game, and eventually found me.”
He wipes his hands down his face, and looks straight at Drummer, then at me and finally at Snatcher. “As I said, I fucked up. So I’m leaving the club.”
“What? No.” Snatcher’s on his feet now. “Look, man. We all make mistakes. We can take Smythe down…”
I growl. It’s my call. I’ve a lot of vengeance to seek.
“This barrel is full of fuckin’ bad apples,” Pip snarls. “It’s not just one man. It’s his whole operation.” He calms slightly. “You’ve got things to be doing here, rebuilding your clubhouse and your lives for a start, and continuing with the business we’ve built up. I need to focus on righting these wrongs, and that means me coming out of retirement.”
Pip can’t do that. “They’ll kill you,” I state. “We all know what will happen if you show your face.”
“Maybe,” Pip says. “Maybe not. It’s a risk I’ll take. But this is huge, Stormy. It’s national security. I’m going to be working with Devil and Grade A Security, using his government contacts. Sure, you can take Smythe out, rescue Marjan, if as I believe, she needs rescuing, but the size of the operation is more than one club can handle. Stopping the weapons trade has to be the focus.”
Pip’s face is set. I haven’t known the man for seven years not to be able to read him. I’m not the only one.
Snatcher’s eyes close briefly, then reopen. “Can we dissuade you?”
“No.” Pip shakes his head. “The wheels are already in motion. During the last few hours, thing have moved fast. I still have some contacts at the Pentagon. Undercover agents are already being briefed to go in and rout out the players Smythe’s got in place. For now, he’s untouchable.” He raises his eyes to me. “Got to ask you, Stormy, to hold off. Can’t have you going rogue with your sniper rifle. We need to give him enough rope to hang himself.”
“I’ll come work with you, I’ll—”
“You’ve got Cat!” Pip rounds on me. “You going to give her up, man?”
It’s hard. I see Drummer’s eyes on me. Hardly anyone is breathing as they wait for me to make the decision. I’m being asked to leave this to someone else, to trust others to seek the revenge for me.
Three months back, I’d have laughed in his face.
Three months back, I hadn’t met the woman that I love.
“You can fuckin’ trust me, Stormy. I need to make this right.”
“Stormy?” Snatcher raises an eyebrow at me. He seems to be letting me know this is my choice. That whatever I decide, he’ll have my back.
Cat. For once in my life I have someone who needs me. She gives me a reason to keep breathing. She keeps me from sliding back to the stone-cold-hearted asshole I once was. If I throw in my lot with Pip, it would set me right back. Instead of her, revenge would be my priority.
I can’t do that.
I find myself drawing in a deep breath. “Just promise me you’ll end this, Pip.”
Drummer jumps in. “Never liked you, Pip. Never liked that you deceived me. Always felt you were using the Utah club for your own ends. I never warmed to you. You’re not one of us. So I’ll give you a deadline. If this Smythe’s not taken out in six months, then Stormy has my blessing, and the backing of the Satan’s Devils to take him out.”
Pip nods sharply. “Six months is enough.” He stands and looks around. “Enough, but not long. So I’ll leave now.” Giving a twisted grin, he adds, “It’s not as if I’ve got much to pack anyway.” He pauses again. “I’m not one for long goodbyes. See you around, brothers.”
With a wave of his hand, he steps out of the circle of chairs, makes his way to the door and exits while leaving us all sitting open mouthed wondering what the fuck just happened.
Drummer clears his throat. “You’ve got this, Snatcher,” he states firmly, in a voice that brooks no argument.
Snatcher shakes his head, draws his hands down his cheeks, then he looks around, his eyes settling on each of the Utah members.
“We’ve got this,” he confirms.
Drummer bangs the glass again. “Moving on…”
A burst of nervous laughter greets him. How the hell do you move on from the desertion of your ex-president? But I suppose on that topic, there’s little more to be discussed.
“Are you going to rebuild?”
“No.” It’s our VP who answers the mother chapter prez. He stretches out his legs and links his hands behind his head. “I never fuckin’ liked that fuckin’ music. Or that I was living in a hotel.”
Stomps of feet, laughs and hollers come from all around.
“I much prefer the old place myself,” Snatcher agrees.
“Speak for your fuckin’ selves,” Cowboy complains.
I hadn’t thought about Cowboy. Now I think about it, I half wonder whether he’d go with Pip. Now I let the thought into my head, I wonder if Pip had already spoken to him.
Cowboy seems to read my mind. He sits forward. “Joking aside, it was right for Pip to move on, and time. Not one hundred percent about the reason, but he needs to put things right. If you’re wondering about me, I’m a fuckin’ Devil. Not going to give up the patch on my back. But…” he glances behind him and his face twists, “it’s fuckin’ takeout until I get a new kitchen.”
“I can get Viper’s crew here to help you rebuild,” Drummer offers, and Snatcher gives him a grateful nod. “You need more rooms at least. Complete overhaul, and I doubt the electrical is up to standard.”
“Goofy’s handy with dry walling.” Grinch puts up his hand. Goofy nudges Grinch hard in the ribs, reminding him, “You’re not too shoddy yourself.”
“Do we need to vote?” Snatcher asks. “All in favour of making this our home, say Aye.” Ayes come from all directions. When he asks for nays, there are none. He shakes his head. “I thought it would be harder than that.”
“Put it this way,” Rascal calls out. “Stormy won’t have so far to fall next time he’s up on the roof.”
While it’s a welcome release of tension and brothers might be laughing too hard, I’m just hoping there won’t be a next time, certainly not like the last. I raise my middle finger toward Rascal.
“Only thinking of you, Brother,” he retorts.